The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-28

HNNRAJ nv VI hoFb WY IVV NtdTS.
After the lapse OF a few centuries this pro-
duced q sensible difference between civil
and true time. In Caesars day, for ex-
ample, the vernal equinox correspondent
to March rs, but in the sixteenth century
IL had fallen back to March IL.
Pope Gregory KILL, in the latter part
Of the sixteenth century, set to work to re-
form the calendar and arrange it so that
civil and astronomical time should bear d
constant and unvarying relation to each
other. He did this by striking off q GER
tain number of days. No attempt was
made, however, TO bring the calendar
back where Caesar placed 1t. Gregory
selected the year A. d. 325, when the
Council OF Nice was held. He found that
tho equinox in that year corrcsponded TO
March 81, and made that Of 1882, when
the Gregory calendar took effect, agree
with 1t. As In the Julian scheme the
equinox in the latter year came on March
II, Gregory suppressed ten days, calling
the 18th, in 1852, the Dist.
+ HOW TO FIND LEAF YEAR.
The meaning and purpose Of leap year
has now been pointed out. Every fourth
year is called leap year because the year
then leaps TO 366 days. But, although, in
a general way, it may be said that every
fourth year is o leap year, yet actually
every fourth year is not a leap year.
Nearly all the leading nations have ac-
ccpted the Gregorian calendar. Ii has
been in vogue in most Of them for more
than a century past. As every fourth year
is not u leap year, 1t is important to learn
how to tell by Gregory's calendar 1ist what
year in the future will be leap year. The
rules for doing this may be outlined thus:
Every year which il divisible by four with
out a remainder, except centurial years, is
a leap year. Centurial y~ears-such as 1900,
1000, 1000, etc.-are leap years when they
are divisiblo by four without a remainder
after striking off two Of the cyphers, and
then only. The year 1900 was not a leap
year, nor will 1900 be one, although 2000
will be entitled 10 that distinction. No
other centurial year will take place after
that until the year 2400.
Although the Gregorian system assures
a close correspondence between the solar
and the civil year, yet the correspondence
is not absolutely accurate. The length of
the mean civil year, Us at present COM
puted, is $50 seconds greater than the
solar year. This error amounts 10 q whole
day in 1926 years. 1t may be corrected,
therefore, by dropping the leap year every
thirty-three and one-fourth centuries.
EoLIPsEs IN 1883.
In the number Of eclipses which IL will
bring, the year 1893, as before intimated,
will be as notable as in the number OF
days which it will contain. There will be
five eclipses in the coming year. The
captious or skeptical reader who thinks
that this Is q small number when spread
out over 800 days lie asked 10 bear in mind
that oil that either 1885 or 1856 could
muster was four. And in neither OF these
years, so far rs the writer is able TO learn,
was there any general protest by the popu-
lace on account OF the fewness OF these
phenomena. The largest number OF
eeiipses which can occur in any year, in
deed, Is seven. This is but two more than
will come In 1888. OF these seven five
will be Of the sun and two OF the moon.
Three Of next years five will be solar and
two lunar.
The eclipses Of 1888 will take place on
the following dates: A total eclipse OF the
moon will occur on January %, q partial
eclipse OF the sun On February IL, another
partial observation OF the same body on
July 8, q total eclipse Of the moon on July
%, and a partial eclipse OF the sun on Au-
gust Z. The two total eclipses OF the moon
viii be visible In the United States, but
| the solar dissertations will not be seen by
any residents OF this country unless they
| chance 10 be in Europe, Asia or Africa at
| the time these events take place. A full
| description OF such OF these phenomena
MS will DO Of general interest, fully illus
tratcd. will be given by the Globe Demo-
| crafs corps OF observers when they occur.
PLANETARY MOVEMENTS IN 1888.
Tho migrations OF the planets in 1888
will bring several OF these members OF the
suns family In close proximity 10 each
other. In January the two briehtestof the
planets, Venus and Jupiter, will be In the
same constellation, Libra. From january
TO August Mars, the earth's nearest neigh
bor outwardly from tho sun, will occupy n
position in Virgo near Uranus, the re-
hottest member but one from the planetary
brotherhood. In August Venus will 10
with Saturn in Cancer. Mars and Jupiter
will each be skurrying out Of Libra into
Scorpio In September, just Ms Venus enters
| Libra. Two months later Venus oyertakes
| Jupiter in Scorpio, although Mars nj that
time has passed out OF that star group into
Sagittarius.
Unlike 1887, one or more OF the con-
spicuous planets will be visible In the even
ing sky In every month in 1883. Saturn
will be evening star from the beginning OF
| the year 10 August |; Mars from January
o 10 the end OF the year; Jupiter from
February 10 December 3; and Venus
| from July II through the remainder u
1883. Saturn will be brightest on January
-, Mars on April II and Jupiter on May
-. Venus will not have il brightest pha|
in 1883.